28-year-old Serbian man denied bail after being found with cocktail of narcotics

A 28-year-old Serbian national named Vladimir Stankovic has been denied bail after being found with a cocktail of illegal drugs, namely cocaine, cannabis, ketamine and other psychotropic drugs which would appear that they were not exclusively for personal use.

The accused had a long list of charges due to the variety of drugs found on his person, but was also charged with tampering with his passport and of being in possession of falsified documents.

Mr Stankovic’s defence contended that while a variety of drugs had been found, and despite the fact that they were found in circumstances which the police believe not to be for personal use, the quantity of drugs found was not substantial.

The defence also argued that when the accused was picked up by the police on 15 April 2017, he was not in Malta illegally. The court heard how the accused’s mother, a Serbian national, married a Maltese man and that Mr Stankovic had been residing with them since 2014.

Such considerations were pointed out when arguments for and against bail were being submitted.

The defence stressed that the familial ties and stable home should alleviate the court’s fears of absconding. It was also argued that the accused had cooperated with the police and granted them access to his residence.

Prosecuting Inspector Kevin Pulis argued that the accused did not in fact fully cooperate with the police because he picked and chose which questions to answer, and that it was the law that provided the police access to the accused’s place of residence, not the accused himself. He also stressed that police investigations into the drugs found on the accused, and investigations into other parties involved were still in preliminary phases.

The defence made a last ditch effort, arguing that should the accused be denied bail his presumption of innocence, granted under law, would be seriously called into question.

Magistrate Grazio Mercieca, presiding over the case, denied bail on the basis that investigations were still in early stages and the fear of the accused absconding.